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Ask HN: Most Reliable Modern Refrigerator?

After our Samsung refrigerator of <7 years failed yesterday I recalled HN posters mentioning how criminally unreliable are modern refrigerators. I've benefitted from many a great advices I saw on HN about appliances, so I am hoping the collective HN mind could have a suggestion about this indispensable household item. I know one solution would be to get a vintage fridge, but I would really appreciate the energey-saving and the ice-making features of the modern ones.

porknubbins 5y ago
I have a bunch of Samsung stuff and have found that they are often overly ambitious with features that seem poorly tested, especially for reliability but that can be fixed by watching youtube. Granted your time may be better spent elsewhere.
- MerelyMortal 5y ago
  I've heard advice given like this: Don't buy an appliance from a brand that makes smartphones.
  - muzani 5y ago
    Samsung was an appliance company long before it was a phone company.
  - smileysteve 5y ago
    But you should probably buy a refrigerator from a company that makes air conditioning systems? Wait until you find Samsung and Bosch components in your car.
    - rogierhofboer 5y ago
      Not sure if you are joking, but almost every modern car has Bosch (sensors, battery, ABS, wipers etc) and/or Samsung (displays, DRAM etc) components.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
      - smileysteve 5y ago
        Precisely the sarcasm I was suggesting. Bosch and Samsung are conglomerates and make much more than even the list you've generated. Especially hvac and mechanical. Including non electronic.
  - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
    I don't know. If Apple made a refrigerator, a lot of people would probably consider buying it. That being said, Samsung, as a Chaebol/conglomerate, can suck and some things and be great at others, simply because its various divisions are very loosely related to each other. In this case, I've heard bad things about Samsung appliances and better things about their display and DRAM production.
opensores 5y ago
yeah, they aren't made like in the 60s anymore; I wouldn't say 6-7 years isn't criminally unreliable, but it is incredibly disappointing and would be a big negative mark for considering the same manufacturer again. On the plus side, in comparison to 60s fridges they're quite a bit more energy efficient. I would avoid ultra bottom end fridges that do not have active fan cooling. I would go for lower end to middle of the road type budgets. Try a different manufacturer. Whirlpool can be price competitive. To me, quality wise they seem not bad, but often can have mediocre OEM components that fail within the time range you experienced on your Samsung fridge. If it's a component that's easily replaceable (in this case, not compressor related) that's something I can tolerate. To the OP, is it something that broke that would not be economically practical to get repaired by a professional?
- smileysteve 5y ago
  > they aren't made like in the 60s anymore This is survivorship bias. Repairs were so common on appliances from this era that Maytag could run a profitable repair business that is now engraved in recent history, 30 years after it no longer exists.
  - fargle 5y ago
    That's not true, even if you claim that they weren't built any better "back then" (which is a point I would still argue with). The reason is that there is literally not a single 2000+ fridge that will be going when it's 50-60 years old. Say that 1960's-1970's fridge broke and needed repair sometime in the last 50-60 years? Or the next? I can still today get plenty of repair parts! You can't get parts for most "modern" fridges over 10 years old today. No way in 50 years. You're simply not going to fix your internet-connected DRM'd in-door water dispenser filter controller board when it's discontinued. My bold prediction is that in 50 years, you'll still see pre-2000 fridges in about the same % as you do today, with the rest being 0-20 years old (which would be 2050-2070 models).
    - technobabbler 5y ago
      You'll spend way more in electricity than you'll save by keeping and repairing the same ancient fridge over and over... Their efficiency has vastly improved.
thecrumb 5y ago
My fridge advice is KISS - nothing in the door - no water dispenser (this is called a faucet), no ice dispenser (this is called a scoop). I like my current fridge as it also allows you to bypass the built in water filter by simply inserting a plug.
rsponholtz 5y ago
Just because the fridge is having a problem doesn’t necessarily mean you have to replace it - there are lots of resources for identifying problems and buying parts online. I had a relatively new fridge stop working, and it just needed a $35 part which was pretty easy to order and install.
- MerelyMortal 5y ago
  Mine makes a loud noise, I tracked it down to a fan, and I think the bearing is bad. It should be easy to replace a fan I think (although a little hassle since I have to remove the ice maker to get to it). And before I even got around to purchasing a new fan, the water dospenser stopped working, and I haven't bothered looking at it yet. Ideally I would just like to replace the whole thing with a quieter refrigerator, but I can't seem to find any reviews that actually address quietness.
  - burntoutfire 5y ago
    My solution to that was to avoid fridges which have fans (I love maximum quietness). That means you won't get the "No Frost" feature - for me the tradeoff was worth it. After that, I sorted the friges in an online comparator by the declared noise level (in dB), and chose the most quiet one. I'm pretty happy with it. Unfortunately, it makes annoying gas noises from time to time - apparently, that's a feature of all modern fridges (or so I was told by the repairman) - the noise is made by gas they use instead of freon. I learned to live with those noises and no longer notice them.
    - MerelyMortal 5y ago
      How did you search/find/sort that?
      - burntoutfire 5y ago
        Through Polish price comparator ceneo.pl. Unfortunately, they don't have an English language version. In any case, here's the link to the fridges: https://www.ceneo.pl/Lodowki;szukaj-lod%c3%b3wka+lod%c3%b3wki https://www.ceneo.pl/Lodowki;szukaj-lod%c3%b3wka+lod%c3%b3wk... In the search filters on the left, "Poziom hałasu" is the noise level in decibels.
linksnapzz 5y ago
So, my heuristic for appliances: Find a vendor that targets customers who lose money if the appliance fails, and is unable to be quickly repaired. So far, this has been a good way to locate Vulcan Ranges, SpeedQueen washers/dryers, and True refrigerators. Now...there are drawbacks to this approach. Many of these brands don't target the price-point, convenience features, or aesthetic that consumer brands do. But, if the price is right, you may find something reliable you can live with. https://true-residential.com/ https://true-residential.com/
- ALittleLight 5y ago
  This is smart. I wonder if you could get more of a consumer aesthetic and feature set if you looked at the appliances in luxury apartments. The apartments would have to replace the appliances if they fail, so the apartment company has presumably done research and has experience. The end user is still just a consumer though.
  - runnerup 5y ago
    Apartments don't generally lose much money when appliances fail. They pay "unskilled laborers" low wages to replace the unit within a reasonable time frame. During that time, the tenant continues to pay rent as normal. There aren't any apartments that compete based on "Our super reliable appliances won't fail!" so any tenants unhappy about this have no marginal benefit to moving somewhere else. Therefore, apartments usually provide the cheapest appliances which fit the aesthetic of the rest of the build. Or, these days, whichever appliance is available for purchase because there's been a massive shortage of durable goods.
    - ALittleLight 5y ago
      Presumably the apartment complex has to replace or repair their appliances. If the appliances failed a lot that would incur high maintenance costs. I don't understand how the complex employing unskilled laborers would reduce the cost of replacing or repairing failed appliances.
drgambrell 5y ago
Neighbor used a propane run refrigerator for some 30+ years. When it failed, tried to replace it with similar model. Unfornateluy, the company had gone out of business some 15+ years prior. No spare parts were available. BTW company went out of business as the result of limited repeat customers.
perrylaj 5y ago
I've just started looking at appliances in general as we are planning some home renovations. Miele seems to be one of the few that are making products intended to last and be serviceable in the residential space. Premium pricing though. I've had great experiences with Viking. Bosch is sometimes mentioned, but in my experience, it may be more maintenance friendly, but it breaks just as often (dishwasher and oven both needed major part replacements withing 7 years ownership). I'm definitely interested in seeing what others have to say. I would like lasting quality, but not at the expense of efficiency and a small slice of modern features (ice dispenser being the main one), so vintage doesn't really meet my needs. I just know that I won't buy another appliance made by a large electronics brand like Samsung, LG, etc. Poor reliability + poor service ability paired with 'smart' features I have zero interest in.
jameslao 5y ago
When I was shopping for a refrigerator, I went to a local appliance center and talked to a person there. I learned a few things: - In door water dispensers and ice makers are unreliable and will likely break. - Availability of repair technicians and spare parts varies by brand and is region dependent. - Different brands are good at different appliances. For instance, Bosch is well known for their dishwashers. Unfortunately I didn't find one in my budget that clearly stood out from the rest. Never hurts to talk to someone at a local appliance center if you have one nearby.
- lb1lf 5y ago
  This has been my strategy, too - and the takeaway was that you were best off going with Miele. If that was a tad too pricey, Asko offered pretty much the same quality at a slightly lower price point. I think Miele just rebrands Liebherr fridges, though. I went with Asko and have been a happy camper thus far (Fridge, freezer, washer, dryer, dishwasher.) All have been doing what I expect them to with no fuss for 15 years now. Replaced the pump on the dishwasher once, cost approx $40 for the pump and took me fifteen minutes to replace.
- jmspring 5y ago
  I have Bosch washer and dryer. I’m in rural no-where about an hour from Reno, NV. Getting a repair person is a challenge and they don’t carry the parts. So far, I’ve been able to handle little things. I’ll probably replace them when they go out. I’ve had them about 6 years now.
MerelyMortal 5y ago
I am thinking about a new refrigerator. I spent the money to buy a Consumer Reports subscription, but their "reviews" did nothing to help me.
- 1123581321 5y ago
  Next time just stop by the library and read/photograph the few relevant pages in the issue for that appliance.
- gruez 5y ago
  >but their "reviews" did nothing to help me. Last time I checked they had a whole table with various models and their ratings. What more do you need?
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
petecooper 5y ago
(UK perspective.) I'm a big fan of Miele. Their appliances are very solid, enduring and priced accordingly. https://www.miele.co.uk https://www.miele.co.uk
- rogierhofboer 5y ago
  Or Liebherr, Miele does not manufacture refrigerators, Liebherr makes them for Miele…
  - petecooper 5y ago
    >Miele does not manufacture refrigerators, Liebherr makes them for Miele Today I learned. I was looking at [1] so assumed Miele made their own. Thanks for the clarification. [1] https://www.miele.co.uk/e/refrigeration-1022129-c https://www.miele.co.uk/e/refrigeration-1022129-c
    - rogierhofboer 5y ago
      It are Miele specific models though, some are very similar to high-end Liebherr models, but they are not exactly the same. Especially the interiors differed the last time I checked.
danuker 5y ago
Recently on HN: https://www.failscout.co/ https://www.failscout.co/ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30335314 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30335314
phat_gopher 5y ago
SubZero is known for being the best in the industry. It's amazing how much longer food lasts. They are expensive though, so if it is in your budget, I would absolutely recommend.
- thegjp210 5y ago
  Agreed! And to color your recommendation - SubZero is famous for using dual compressors (vs. the traditional single), which better circulates & chills air.
  - mrtweetyhack 5y ago
  - 2rsf 5y ago
    You can now buy from most firms a separate fridge and freeze which practically means dual compressors, and even better you can replace just one side in case of a catastrophic failure.
- toast0 5y ago
  SubZero is quite expensive, and also quite nice; mine has a service display behind the vent to see current status and trouble codes). They also keep the same models for a long time. This should help with parts availability. I did have a problem with the ice maker freezing up, but reading the service manual figured out that the drain heater just needed to be tweaked a bit (it also doesn't hurt to turn off the ice maker when nobody is going to use ice for a while) Considering the possibility of my refrigerator doing finishing moves is an extra bonus.
- watersb 5y ago
  I'm staying in a house right now that features a SubZero refrigerator. It's at least ten years old, huge, and full. It's not very efficient, when it comes to power consumption. But the freezer is huge, and works for this family.
Siecje 5y ago
I'm interested in a fridge that allows you to easily clean the coils. I have a Samsung fridge that came with the house. The ice has built up twice in 6 months and needed to be left unplugged and open for it to thaw to prevent a loud noise. Now it is leaky at one of the legs. It is much larger than a traditional fridge and the coils are not visible. I believe they are behind a panel at the back (bottom) of the fridge. Ideally the coils would be easily accessible so they can be cleaned periodically.
- duped 5y ago
  This could be a ventilation or thermal issue, I had a lot of issues with this in an AC unit a few years back and it turned out to be a blocked duct.
theossuary 5y ago
Personally I relied a lot on the Yale appliance blog to help me learn what appliances to get. Long story short though, there's a non-negligible chance your appliance will fail, so plan for it. Make sure you know who to call, and that they're service reviews are good. https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-counter-depth-french-door-refrigerators https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-counter-depth-f...
coward123 5y ago
I wouldn't buy a Samsung anything given my experiences. That said... the LG washer and dryer I bought 12 years ago have been awesome and the LG fridge I bought a while back has been very good too. Enough that my partner pushed to buy a new LG dishwasher from Costco rather than springing for the Bosch that I wanted. FWIW: My mom has had an LG fridge for a few years now too and raves about it.
creakingstairs 5y ago
Since your last fridge was a Samsung, I might introduce a distinctly Korean heuristics for appliances: 백색가전은 LG. This translates to "LG for white appliances". Now I don't know if LG is actually better nowadays, but it is one of those interesting marketing tactics that must have paid dividends for LG because it is still the first thing I think of when I think about buying white appliances. Also, I don't actually recommend this heuristics. Just thought it could be an interesting data point :)
krnlpnc 5y ago
I’d suggest shopping the nearest scratch and dent for the models that fit your needs and spend a few minutes searching for reviews and issues on those specific models, then go with the best of the bunch. From what I can tell these days even reputable brands have bad models and spotty quality. So I’d just try to spend as little as possible and screen for any stand out problems before buying.
nunez 5y ago
if you don't need a smart fridge (which i wouldn't recommend anyway), i love GE's fridges. we have one. works great. i've also heard great stuff about whirlpool fridges. note that the appliance industry is incestuous as fuck. it's basically a cabal of six selling stuff at all price points. see here: http://www.appliance411.com/purchase/make.shtml http://www.appliance411.com/purchase/make.shtml
specialist 5y ago
I (briefly) had a Samsung fridge. Made weird noises. Impossible to clean without breaking stuff. Apparently designed by a team that had never seen a fridge before. Or perhaps by misanthropes who also hated all fridgekind. Switched to a modest (no gimmick) Haier. Love it. Simple, quiet, easy to clean.
muzani 5y ago
Samsung fridges are terrible. We've had to repair ours twice in a few months and eventually threw it out. It was still under warranty, but fridges are something you generally don't want failing even if you get the money back. Hitachi and LG have worked fine for us, but it's been less than 10 years.

porknubbins 5y ago

I have a bunch of Samsung stuff and have found that they are often overly ambitious with features that seem poorly tested, especially for reliability but that can be fixed by watching youtube. Granted your time may be better spent elsewhere.

MerelyMortal 5y ago
I've heard advice given like this: Don't buy an appliance from a brand that makes smartphones.
- muzani 5y ago
  Samsung was an appliance company long before it was a phone company.
- smileysteve 5y ago
  But you should probably buy a refrigerator from a company that makes air conditioning systems? Wait until you find Samsung and Bosch components in your car.
  - rogierhofboer 5y ago
    Not sure if you are joking, but almost every modern car has Bosch (sensors, battery, ABS, wipers etc) and/or Samsung (displays, DRAM etc) components.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - smileysteve 5y ago
      Precisely the sarcasm I was suggesting. Bosch and Samsung are conglomerates and make much more than even the list you've generated. Especially hvac and mechanical. Including non electronic.
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  I don't know. If Apple made a refrigerator, a lot of people would probably consider buying it. That being said, Samsung, as a Chaebol/conglomerate, can suck and some things and be great at others, simply because its various divisions are very loosely related to each other. In this case, I've heard bad things about Samsung appliances and better things about their display and DRAM production.

opensores 5y ago

yeah, they aren't made like in the 60s anymore; I wouldn't say 6-7 years isn't criminally unreliable, but it is incredibly disappointing and would be a big negative mark for considering the same manufacturer again. On the plus side, in comparison to 60s fridges they're quite a bit more energy efficient. I would avoid ultra bottom end fridges that do not have active fan cooling. I would go for lower end to middle of the road type budgets. Try a different manufacturer. Whirlpool can be price competitive. To me, quality wise they seem not bad, but often can have mediocre OEM components that fail within the time range you experienced on your Samsung fridge. If it's a component that's easily replaceable (in this case, not compressor related) that's something I can tolerate. To the OP, is it something that broke that would not be economically practical to get repaired by a professional?

smileysteve 5y ago
> they aren't made like in the 60s anymore This is survivorship bias. Repairs were so common on appliances from this era that Maytag could run a profitable repair business that is now engraved in recent history, 30 years after it no longer exists.
- fargle 5y ago
  That's not true, even if you claim that they weren't built any better "back then" (which is a point I would still argue with). The reason is that there is literally not a single 2000+ fridge that will be going when it's 50-60 years old. Say that 1960's-1970's fridge broke and needed repair sometime in the last 50-60 years? Or the next? I can still today get plenty of repair parts! You can't get parts for most "modern" fridges over 10 years old today. No way in 50 years. You're simply not going to fix your internet-connected DRM'd in-door water dispenser filter controller board when it's discontinued. My bold prediction is that in 50 years, you'll still see pre-2000 fridges in about the same % as you do today, with the rest being 0-20 years old (which would be 2050-2070 models).
  - technobabbler 5y ago
    You'll spend way more in electricity than you'll save by keeping and repairing the same ancient fridge over and over... Their efficiency has vastly improved.

thecrumb 5y ago

My fridge advice is KISS - nothing in the door - no water dispenser (this is called a faucet), no ice dispenser (this is called a scoop). I like my current fridge as it also allows you to bypass the built in water filter by simply inserting a plug.

rsponholtz 5y ago

Just because the fridge is having a problem doesn’t necessarily mean you have to replace it - there are lots of resources for identifying problems and buying parts online. I had a relatively new fridge stop working, and it just needed a $35 part which was pretty easy to order and install.

MerelyMortal 5y ago
Mine makes a loud noise, I tracked it down to a fan, and I think the bearing is bad. It should be easy to replace a fan I think (although a little hassle since I have to remove the ice maker to get to it). And before I even got around to purchasing a new fan, the water dospenser stopped working, and I haven't bothered looking at it yet. Ideally I would just like to replace the whole thing with a quieter refrigerator, but I can't seem to find any reviews that actually address quietness.
- burntoutfire 5y ago
  My solution to that was to avoid fridges which have fans (I love maximum quietness). That means you won't get the "No Frost" feature - for me the tradeoff was worth it. After that, I sorted the friges in an online comparator by the declared noise level (in dB), and chose the most quiet one. I'm pretty happy with it. Unfortunately, it makes annoying gas noises from time to time - apparently, that's a feature of all modern fridges (or so I was told by the repairman) - the noise is made by gas they use instead of freon. I learned to live with those noises and no longer notice them.
  - MerelyMortal 5y ago
    How did you search/find/sort that?
    - burntoutfire 5y ago
      Through Polish price comparator ceneo.pl. Unfortunately, they don't have an English language version. In any case, here's the link to the fridges: https://www.ceneo.pl/Lodowki;szukaj-lod%c3%b3wka+lod%c3%b3wki https://www.ceneo.pl/Lodowki;szukaj-lod%c3%b3wka+lod%c3%b3wk... In the search filters on the left, "Poziom hałasu" is the noise level in decibels.

linksnapzz 5y ago

So, my heuristic for appliances: Find a vendor that targets customers who lose money if the appliance fails, and is unable to be quickly repaired. So far, this has been a good way to locate Vulcan Ranges, SpeedQueen washers/dryers, and True refrigerators. Now...there are drawbacks to this approach. Many of these brands don't target the price-point, convenience features, or aesthetic that consumer brands do. But, if the price is right, you may find something reliable you can live with. https://true-residential.com/ https://true-residential.com/

ALittleLight 5y ago
This is smart. I wonder if you could get more of a consumer aesthetic and feature set if you looked at the appliances in luxury apartments. The apartments would have to replace the appliances if they fail, so the apartment company has presumably done research and has experience. The end user is still just a consumer though.
- runnerup 5y ago
  Apartments don't generally lose much money when appliances fail. They pay "unskilled laborers" low wages to replace the unit within a reasonable time frame. During that time, the tenant continues to pay rent as normal. There aren't any apartments that compete based on "Our super reliable appliances won't fail!" so any tenants unhappy about this have no marginal benefit to moving somewhere else. Therefore, apartments usually provide the cheapest appliances which fit the aesthetic of the rest of the build. Or, these days, whichever appliance is available for purchase because there's been a massive shortage of durable goods.
  - ALittleLight 5y ago
    Presumably the apartment complex has to replace or repair their appliances. If the appliances failed a lot that would incur high maintenance costs. I don't understand how the complex employing unskilled laborers would reduce the cost of replacing or repairing failed appliances.

drgambrell 5y ago

Neighbor used a propane run refrigerator for some 30+ years. When it failed, tried to replace it with similar model. Unfornateluy, the company had gone out of business some 15+ years prior. No spare parts were available. BTW company went out of business as the result of limited repeat customers.

perrylaj 5y ago

I've just started looking at appliances in general as we are planning some home renovations. Miele seems to be one of the few that are making products intended to last and be serviceable in the residential space. Premium pricing though. I've had great experiences with Viking. Bosch is sometimes mentioned, but in my experience, it may be more maintenance friendly, but it breaks just as often (dishwasher and oven both needed major part replacements withing 7 years ownership). I'm definitely interested in seeing what others have to say. I would like lasting quality, but not at the expense of efficiency and a small slice of modern features (ice dispenser being the main one), so vintage doesn't really meet my needs. I just know that I won't buy another appliance made by a large electronics brand like Samsung, LG, etc. Poor reliability + poor service ability paired with 'smart' features I have zero interest in.

jameslao 5y ago

When I was shopping for a refrigerator, I went to a local appliance center and talked to a person there. I learned a few things: - In door water dispensers and ice makers are unreliable and will likely break. - Availability of repair technicians and spare parts varies by brand and is region dependent. - Different brands are good at different appliances. For instance, Bosch is well known for their dishwashers. Unfortunately I didn't find one in my budget that clearly stood out from the rest. Never hurts to talk to someone at a local appliance center if you have one nearby.

lb1lf 5y ago
This has been my strategy, too - and the takeaway was that you were best off going with Miele. If that was a tad too pricey, Asko offered pretty much the same quality at a slightly lower price point. I think Miele just rebrands Liebherr fridges, though. I went with Asko and have been a happy camper thus far (Fridge, freezer, washer, dryer, dishwasher.) All have been doing what I expect them to with no fuss for 15 years now. Replaced the pump on the dishwasher once, cost approx $40 for the pump and took me fifteen minutes to replace.
jmspring 5y ago
I have Bosch washer and dryer. I’m in rural no-where about an hour from Reno, NV. Getting a repair person is a challenge and they don’t carry the parts. So far, I’ve been able to handle little things. I’ll probably replace them when they go out. I’ve had them about 6 years now.

MerelyMortal 5y ago

I am thinking about a new refrigerator. I spent the money to buy a Consumer Reports subscription, but their "reviews" did nothing to help me.

1123581321 5y ago
Next time just stop by the library and read/photograph the few relevant pages in the issue for that appliance.
gruez 5y ago
>but their "reviews" did nothing to help me. Last time I checked they had a whole table with various models and their ratings. What more do you need?
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

petecooper 5y ago

(UK perspective.) I'm a big fan of Miele. Their appliances are very solid, enduring and priced accordingly. https://www.miele.co.uk https://www.miele.co.uk

rogierhofboer 5y ago
Or Liebherr, Miele does not manufacture refrigerators, Liebherr makes them for Miele…
- petecooper 5y ago
  >Miele does not manufacture refrigerators, Liebherr makes them for Miele Today I learned. I was looking at [1] so assumed Miele made their own. Thanks for the clarification. [1] https://www.miele.co.uk/e/refrigeration-1022129-c https://www.miele.co.uk/e/refrigeration-1022129-c
  - rogierhofboer 5y ago
    It are Miele specific models though, some are very similar to high-end Liebherr models, but they are not exactly the same. Especially the interiors differed the last time I checked.

danuker 5y ago

Recently on HN: https://www.failscout.co/ https://www.failscout.co/ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30335314 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30335314

phat_gopher 5y ago

SubZero is known for being the best in the industry. It's amazing how much longer food lasts. They are expensive though, so if it is in your budget, I would absolutely recommend.

thegjp210 5y ago
Agreed! And to color your recommendation - SubZero is famous for using dual compressors (vs. the traditional single), which better circulates & chills air.
- mrtweetyhack 5y ago
- 2rsf 5y ago
  You can now buy from most firms a separate fridge and freeze which practically means dual compressors, and even better you can replace just one side in case of a catastrophic failure.
toast0 5y ago
SubZero is quite expensive, and also quite nice; mine has a service display behind the vent to see current status and trouble codes). They also keep the same models for a long time. This should help with parts availability. I did have a problem with the ice maker freezing up, but reading the service manual figured out that the drain heater just needed to be tweaked a bit (it also doesn't hurt to turn off the ice maker when nobody is going to use ice for a while) Considering the possibility of my refrigerator doing finishing moves is an extra bonus.
watersb 5y ago
I'm staying in a house right now that features a SubZero refrigerator. It's at least ten years old, huge, and full. It's not very efficient, when it comes to power consumption. But the freezer is huge, and works for this family.

Siecje 5y ago

I'm interested in a fridge that allows you to easily clean the coils. I have a Samsung fridge that came with the house. The ice has built up twice in 6 months and needed to be left unplugged and open for it to thaw to prevent a loud noise. Now it is leaky at one of the legs. It is much larger than a traditional fridge and the coils are not visible. I believe they are behind a panel at the back (bottom) of the fridge. Ideally the coils would be easily accessible so they can be cleaned periodically.

duped 5y ago
This could be a ventilation or thermal issue, I had a lot of issues with this in an AC unit a few years back and it turned out to be a blocked duct.

theossuary 5y ago

Personally I relied a lot on the Yale appliance blog to help me learn what appliances to get. Long story short though, there's a non-negligible chance your appliance will fail, so plan for it. Make sure you know who to call, and that they're service reviews are good. https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-counter-depth-french-door-refrigerators https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-counter-depth-f...

coward123 5y ago

I wouldn't buy a Samsung anything given my experiences. That said... the LG washer and dryer I bought 12 years ago have been awesome and the LG fridge I bought a while back has been very good too. Enough that my partner pushed to buy a new LG dishwasher from Costco rather than springing for the Bosch that I wanted. FWIW: My mom has had an LG fridge for a few years now too and raves about it.

creakingstairs 5y ago

Since your last fridge was a Samsung, I might introduce a distinctly Korean heuristics for appliances: 백색가전은 LG. This translates to "LG for white appliances". Now I don't know if LG is actually better nowadays, but it is one of those interesting marketing tactics that must have paid dividends for LG because it is still the first thing I think of when I think about buying white appliances. Also, I don't actually recommend this heuristics. Just thought it could be an interesting data point :)

krnlpnc 5y ago

I’d suggest shopping the nearest scratch and dent for the models that fit your needs and spend a few minutes searching for reviews and issues on those specific models, then go with the best of the bunch. From what I can tell these days even reputable brands have bad models and spotty quality. So I’d just try to spend as little as possible and screen for any stand out problems before buying.

nunez 5y ago

if you don't need a smart fridge (which i wouldn't recommend anyway), i love GE's fridges. we have one. works great. i've also heard great stuff about whirlpool fridges. note that the appliance industry is incestuous as fuck. it's basically a cabal of six selling stuff at all price points. see here: http://www.appliance411.com/purchase/make.shtml http://www.appliance411.com/purchase/make.shtml

specialist 5y ago

I (briefly) had a Samsung fridge. Made weird noises. Impossible to clean without breaking stuff. Apparently designed by a team that had never seen a fridge before. Or perhaps by misanthropes who also hated all fridgekind. Switched to a modest (no gimmick) Haier. Love it. Simple, quiet, easy to clean.

muzani 5y ago

Samsung fridges are terrible. We've had to repair ours twice in a few months and eventually threw it out. It was still under warranty, but fridges are something you generally don't want failing even if you get the money back. Hitachi and LG have worked fine for us, but it's been less than 10 years.